More than ninety students independently sourced and secured their own placements across a wide range of industries, where they were able to apply their classroom learning in practical settings. The experience provided a meaningful insight into the world of work, helping students to understand the expectations of professional environments and the contrasts between school and employment.

Viki Foster, school careers leader, said: “Work experience is an important part of our careers programme. It plays a vital role in students’ development, helping to deepen their understanding of potential career routes and the options available to them.

“Taking part increases their awareness of the local labour market and the opportunities for employment in our area. It’s also a chance for them to explore job roles, ask meaningful questions, and learn about the skills and qualifications required by different employers.

“I was deeply impressed by how proactive our students were in securing their own placements. The ongoing support of local employers remains invaluable as it not only benefits our students, it also allows businesses to engage with future talent and raise their profile within the community. We are extremely grateful to those who hosted placements this year and to the many already offering their support for the future.”

Students embraced the opportunity to engage with employers, securing placements across a variety of sectors including education, retail, legal services, hospitality, tourism, and agriculture. Participating employers included Centrica Energy Storage+, British Transport Police, Holderness Health, and Porsche Centre Hull.

While some chose placements aligned with their future career ambitions, others took the opportunity to explore working environments unrelated to their current interests. Among those keen to use work experience week as an opportunity to develop a wider understanding of the world of work was Meredith - a student with aspirations for a future career in law. Keen to learn how small businesses operate, she secured a placement at artisan gift shop and gallery, The Black Sheep and Dog.

Reflecting on her experience at the Patrington-based business, Meredith said: “I enjoyed learning about how the shop is run, including the various taxes and exemptions involved, and the effort it takes to make a small business successful. I did some research on business ownership and found that marketing is essential because if you don’t promote a product effectively, it won’t reach the right people.

“Although I’m aiming to become a lawyer, this experience helped me understand how businesses function, which will be useful when I’m studying business law. It also demonstrated the value of transferable skills and how the things we learn in school can apply in real-life situations.”

Helen McCreath, owner of The Black Sheep and Dog, said: “Although retail is not a career path that Meredith intends to pursue, she took a keen interest in understanding the logistics and operational structures involved in running a small business. She developed a business plan outlining how she would establish a retail space, which included a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. She researched this framework to better understand its purpose.

“In addition, Meredith created a marketing strategy detailing how to launch and promote the business. She made media content using video, photography, and appropriate soundtracks, to engage with our customer base. We discussed how incorporating images of other retail spaces in the village not only supported our shared economic interests, but also helped introduce our community to a wider audience.

“Meredith also carried out research on all of the shop’s stockists and produced a presentation for each one. This included the pros and cons of what she felt worked well for the sellers and the shop. Overall, I believe Meredith left with a clear understanding of what goes on behind the scenes to run a small business in a rural village and community like ours.”

In advance of their placements, all participating students attended a preparation session where school careers leader Viki Foster outlined expectations for behaviour and engagement in the workplace. Students each received a handbook and key information about their placement, including a bespoke risk assessment. Further support came from Education 2 Work, a work experience facilitator that links schools with employers and carries out vital health, safety and safeguarding checks ahead of placements.

The school’s work experience programme aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks, a national framework of eight guidelines to improve the delivery of careers education in schools and colleges across England. The Benchmarks recommend that all students should have first-hand experience of the workplace, including visits, shadowing, and placements, to help broaden their career awareness and develop professional networks.

This is reinforced by recently updated government guidance which recommends that all students have at least ten experiences of the workplace between Years 7 and 11 (ages 11 to 16). These measures reflect a growing recognition of the valuable role that work experience plays in helping students to shape their futures. During a visit to the school in March, Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart expressed his support for expanding work experience opportunities for young people in Holderness, while school careers ambassador Darcy L spoke in the House of Lords to advocate for more work placements within the NHS.

Viki Foster said: “Thanks to Darcy’s voice being heard in the House of Lords, and the support of Graham Stuart, I’m proud that the significance of work experience is being recognised at such a high level. Their backing underscores how vital such opportunities are in helping our students gain meaningful insight into the working world and develop skills that will shape their futures.”

Meanwhile, around 50 students not on external placements also benefitted from career-focused activities throughout work experience week. Among the opportunities offered was engagement with the NHS ‘Step into Healthcare’ programme at Hull College, a trip that was led by head of personal development, Andrea Monaghan, and organised by the Humber and East Yorkshire Careers Hub. Representatives from Hull University Teaching Hospitals, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, and City Health Care Partnership hosted a carousel of sessions which explored the wide range of roles within the healthcare sector.

Another group of students visited the York Chocolate Story, where they explored the history of York’s chocolate industry before taking part in a hands-on workshop. The session tasked students with designing, creating, and marketing their own chocolate brands which provided an insight into product development, pricing strategies, branding, target audiences, and creative marketing.

Among those on the trip was Darcey W who said: "We learned about the history of chocolate, different brands, and how they’re made. We took part in a workshop where we created and marketed our own chocolate products and we got to try a lot of samples too, which was great! I hadn’t realised that different families and companies were behind the big-name brands we know today.

“It really opened my eyes to the business side of things; how it’s not just about making the chocolate, it’s about how you brand it, who you market it to, and how you sell it. Even though chocolate-making isn’t the career I want to pursue, I could see how the skills we used, like teamwork, creativity and thinking commercially, are useful in any job. It made me realise how different industries are still connected by the same skills."

In addition to workplace visits, students were invited to attend a college taster day at East Riding College’s Beverley campus, where they explored a variety of vocational subjects including construction, music, and health and social care. Earlier in the term, similar visits to Wilberforce College and Bishop Burton College allowed students to sample subjects not typically offered in school, such as criminology and animal management.

Viki Foster said: “With post-16 applications for colleges and apprenticeships opening in the autumn term, college taster events offer a valuable introduction to providers and the wide range of subjects available for our students after Year 11, some of which they may not have previously considered. It is clear from the feedback received that the students really benefited from these visits, sparking many positive conversations in the weeks since.”

As the cohort prepares to return in September as the new Year 11, attention will turn to an important academic year that will see them sit their final GCSE exams and take their next steps towards further education, employment or training. Throughout the year, they will continue to receive one-to-one careers interviews and personalised guidance to support informed post-16 choices.

They will also participate in activities designed to develop the key skills needed for successful applications and interviews. This builds on an application support day, held in June, where students were introduced to Logon Moveon – an online platform that supports young people through the post-16 application process.

During the session, students created personal profiles and drafted personal statements, building on work that had previously been completed in English lessons. These early preparations will help streamline the application process when it opens in October and ensure that students are well equipped to make confident and informed choices about their next steps.

ABOVE: Meredith W on placement at The Black Sheep and Dog. Meredith is holding her work experience handbook, a diary and information booklet issued to all students on placements where they can record their learning.

ABOVE: The Black Sheep and Dog, artisan gift shop and gallery in Patrington. 

ABOVE: Joe W gets hands-on while on placement at Mike Wilson Butchers Ltd. 

ABOVE: James G was one of three students who secured a placement at Martin Williams (Hull) Ltd - one of the UK's leading providers of commercial and specialist vehicle services. 

ABOVE: Darcey W and Nevaeh F were among the Year 10 students who enjoyed a trip to the York Chocolate Story.